The Ghosts of Roseby Hall by Jeanette Taylor Ford

Book Blurb

This book has been awarded the Indie B.R.A.G. medallion

On her first visit to her parent’s new home in Derbyshire, Beth Watson hears the whispered call coming from the old ruined mansion next door. Captivated by Roseby Hall, and disillusioned with her job and her unfaithful fiancé, she leaves her life in London to make a new life – and, rediscovering her talent for art, embarks upon a new venture as an artist of note and partner in the new craft shop in the village.

Soon, she has two men in her life – Rick, the attractive twin brother of Beth’s new friend Rachel, and the other a devastatingly handsome Earl.

One is puzzling – and the other is a ghost.

Beth finds herself struggling to understand her feelings for them both and dealing with the confusion within. But someone in the village knows that Beth is now caught up in a race against time, which could end with her untimely death, and there’s only one person who can prevent it.

Best Book Editors Review

I’m happy with a good old ghost story, any day. This book’s a good blend of romance, mystery, period, and the supernatural. Beth moves to a small village in Derbyshire, England, and the descriptions of the scenery are breathtaking. This is another biggie for me. The vivid descriptions of Roseby Hall (the little hall, too) the characters and the setting bring the book to life. The new and otherworldly characters are cleverly interwoven, with a satisfying mystery for readers to unravel.

A mix of the ethereal and the earthly brings love, betrayal, and the supernatural. The threat of death injects urgency and excitement into the quaint pleasantness and the author’s skilful storytelling, and rich character development, make this an engaging read. The ideal story for people who like a blend of hostory, period settings, romance, and the supernatural.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About Jeanette Taylor Ford

I’m a multi-genre author who has allowed my fascination with old buildings colour my writing; which has produced a few ghostly tales with a difference. My Castell Glas Trilogy, inspired by the wonderful Gwrych Castle in North Wales ran into fantasy, with not only ghosts but witches too and so many other unexpected people, all mixed together to form a riveting tale.

A four hundred year old house inspired my popular River View Series, which has been a joy to write, although I never intended to write crime! Set in my beloved Herefordshire, I’ve loved living there again in my mind and associating with my characters who reside in the village of Sutton-on-Wye, along my two detectives, D.I. Dan Cooke and D.S. Graham Grant.

My Robin’s Ring trilogy for children, although not reflected in reviews on Amazon, are loved by all children who have come into contact with them and I love visiting schools to interact with the pupils.

My retirement from my job as a teaching assistant has given me the opportunity to indulge my love of writing and I ask for no more than to give pleasure to my readers, although I’m thrilled to be the recipient of four awards. When not writing, I’m making cards or doing other crafts, exploring my Family History and all sorts of other things. I am married to Tony, a retired teacher, and we have six children and eight grandchildren. We live near Nottingham, England.

Neats

An enchanting read!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 August 2020

Verified Purchase

This is the first book I’ve read by Jeantte Taylor Ford and what a wonderful book to begin with

Beth’s parents have moved to Derbyshire and their new house is next to an old ruined mansion called Roseby Hall. Beth finds hersef being bewitched by the ruins and is inexplicably drawn to them when she first goes to visit her parents.

When Beth’s personal circumstances change she leaves her London home and moves in with parents while she re-evaluates her life. Things begin to fall into place for her, a new venture and new friends but once again she feels the pull of Roseby Hall and strange things happen. Unbeknown to Beth, one of her new friends knows exactly what is going on and will have to act quickly or the consequences could prove to be fatal!

I throughly enjoyed reading this spooky tale of ghosts, romance and times gone by and raced through it in one sitting. I was enchanted by the descriptions of the countryside, but I was especially taken by those of Roseby Hall in all it’s glory. When I discovered that it was inspired by an actual Grade 1 listed Georgian ruined stately home, I headed straight to good old Google to see it for myself and then realised that the building in the background of the cover looks suspiciously similar, if not the same as what I found online.

Despite being a relatively short book, it certainly wasn’t lacking in any way. The plot was cleverly thought out, the characters were nicely devoloped and the writing was so wonderfully descriptive that I felt like I was within the walls of Roseby Hall witnessing the majestic interiors with my own eyes.

Jeanette Taylor Ford certainly knows how to tell a story and I will definitely be reading more of her books in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kindle Customer

A spookily lovely read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 August 2020

Verified Purchase

Well written, strong plot and characters with some naughty spirits thrown in. Roseby Hall stands derelict, a mere hint to a once grand building. However, some eyes that spy its form, behold not just its former glory but those that frequented its corridors, so many years before. Beth feels an instant connection, but is unaware of possible dangers…
Really enjoyed this clever tale.

Robert Southworth Author of The Ripper Legacies and Spartacus Chronicles.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A modern-day drama with a link to the past.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 November 2023

Verified Purchase

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I absolutely loved it.
A modern-day drama with a link to the past.

Beth didn’t understand what was happening to her; the strange dreams were becoming more frequent and insistent. Who was that handsome man she saw who thrilled her with just a smile?
Beth left her home in London to inspect the house her parents had decided to spend the rest of their lives in. Derbyshire was beautiful and Beth too fell under its spell. Not far from Beth’s parents home stood the old ruins of the now abandoned Roseby Hall, steeped in history and the once elegant grandeur of times gone by.
Beth enjoyed painting, and a new career beckoned as the ‘Old Hall’ called to her.
This tale began in an easy delightful way, and I was thoroughly enjoying the light-heartedness of the characters and the gently unfolding story.
Boy was I wrong!
Before I knew it the story had plunged into a full-blown ghost story with all the frights and scares of an unpredictable plot peppered with ghostly apparitions. The story galloped along with romance in the air.
Compelling and intriguing, I was engrossed from the very first page. Well-crafted characters in a beautifully descriptive story. I could visualise each scene. A well-written story full of twists and turns, and one that I really enjoyed.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐